A new survey of 126,000 international students found that the U.S. was the only one of the top four host countries to provide above-average student satisfaction. The other three (the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada) ranked below average. The report is summarized by Seeta Bhardwa in Times Higher Education. (November 2023) …
Some US Politicians Want to Cut Funding for Humanities Programs
As cultural battles involving school curriculums are being fought across the United States, some conservative politicians are suggesting funding be cut for college humanities programs. Times Higher Education reports that some elected officials favor programs that help students get higher-paying jobs, and that help states train more skilled workers. (October 2023) …
Startup Hopes to Address Nursing Shortage With International Students
Startup Hopes to Address Nursing Shortage With International Students Boston startup InSpring wants to help alleviate the nursing shortage in the United States by training hundreds of international students, according to a report published by Axios. The first cohort could take exams in 2025, although they could work in health care positions earlier as they study for…
Colleges Continue Fight Against Hazing Among Athletes
A number of college campuses across the United States have been dealing with allegations of hazing in 2023, often involving athletic programs at schools. CNN describes what hazing is, how it gained a foothold on campuses and how colleges are fighting it. (September 2023) …
Programs Provide Parenting Services for College Students
When students are far from home but still need the help of a parent, services offered at schools around the country can help fill the gap. People Magazine reports rent-a-mom services are helping students, and their parents, make the transition to independence a little easier – for a price. (September 2023) …
International Students Have Returned to US Colleges, Fueled by a Surge From India
International students attended U.S. universities in surging numbers last year, rebounding from a pandemic slump with the help of a 35% jump in students coming from India, according to a study released Monday. Overall, the number of international students in the U.S. grew by 12% in the 2022-23 academic year, the largest single-year increase in…
Poll: Few Americans Believe Conservatives Can Speak Freely on Campus
Americans generally believe liberals have a lot of freedom to express themselves on college campuses, while fewer say the same can be said for conservatives, according to a new poll from University of Chicago and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. WDEF in Chattanooga, Tennessee, reports that Americans believe conservatives face stronger bias on…
US Life Expectancy Gap Widens Among Those Who Do and Don’t Have College Degrees
People in the U.S. with college degrees live longer than people without degrees, MSNBC reports. Princeton University economists found the gap between people with and without college degrees in the U.S. widened since the 1990s, so that by 2021, there was an 8.5-year lifespan difference between the two groups. (October 2023) …
Despite Equity Issues, Internships Are Still Worth It
Did you know that undergraduate students who finished a paid internship are more than twice as likely to finish college with a job offer as those without any internship experience? That’s just one of the points raised by Noah Isenberg in his op-ed. Despite persistent diversity issues with internships, especially the fact that poorer students often…
To Get a Sports Scholarship in the US, Follow These Tips
Student athletes in the U.S. can have their tuition paid for and even win lucrative sponsorships, but the path there is not easy. For US News & World Report, Anayat Durrani explains the recruitment process and the differences between the major intercollegiate athletic groups. (October 2023) …
How Can Colleges Better Support International Students?
International students are valued by schools in the U.S., both for the global perspectives they provide, and for the tuition dollars they bring in. Despite this, students often struggle to adjust to the American education system. For Inside Higher Ed, Ashley Mowreader reports on how colleges can culturally integrate students from other countries. (October 2023) …
Even at Princeton, International Students Face Legal Obstacles
The Daily Princetonian, Princeton University’s campus newspaper, spoke with undergraduate students navigating the post-graduation job search. Despite their prestigious degrees, many report limited job options and say they have to apply to in-demand jobs in tech and consulting to have a shot at an H1-B visa. Claire Meng, Sandeep Mangat and Michelle Miao report. (October 2023).…
Federal Rule Change Could Bar Withholding of Transcripts
The U.S. Department of Education recently unveiled new rules that could bar colleges and universities from withholding transcripts and academic credits to students who owe money. Inside Higher Ed reports that the practice of withholding transcripts has come under scrutiny in recent years. (October 2023) …
Surgeon General Addresses Loneliness, Isolation on Campuses
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy kicked off a national tour highlighting mental health with a visit to Duke University. Murthy was addressing what he described as the growing problems of loneliness and isolation on college campuses, according to a report from WRAL News. (October 2023) …
Some Colleges Providing Naloxone, Fentanyl Test Strips
Some colleges are helping students stay safe by providing free naloxone and fentanyl test strips to students to prevent drug overdoses. Shiv Sudhakar of Fox News reports that the test strips can determine if recreational drugs are laced with fentanyl. (October 2023) …
Navigating US Campus Challenges as an International Student
Mandi Kanhema, a student from Zimbabwe studying at the University of Oklahoma, says international students face hidden barriers and a lack of resources. She talks about them here. (October 2023) …
India Overtakes China as Top Source of Foreign Students in US
For the first time in 15 years, China is no longer the top source of international students in the United States. The Chronicle of Higher Education reports that as of September, there were more than 320,000 active Indian student-visa holders, compared with 254,000 from China. (October 2023) …
International Student Dives into American Football
Isabella McNutt, a student from Budapest, Hungary, studying at the College of William & Mary in the U.S. state of Virginia, went to her first American football game at the school. “It’s a surreal daydream of dressing up in gold and green and going to tailgates before herds of students flood the stadium to see…
International Student Overcomes Rough Start in US School
Kae Takazawa, a student from Japan studying at El Camino College in California, found adjustment to campus life a rough road. Financial issues, language barriers and health problems made for a rough start. Takazawa writes about the experience in The Union, the school’s newspaper. Read it here. (October 2023) …
International Student Shares Experience After Maine Mass Shooting
The recent mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, sent college students in the area into lockdown. One of them was Alan Wang, a 21-year-old student from China who studies at Bates College. He spoke to Diego Lasarte of The New Yorker about the experience and how it’s changed his opinion of the U.S. (October 2023) …
On Israel and Gaza, University Presidents Tread Softly
Activists, donors, students and the media are reading university statements carefully. With reputations and donations on the line, presidents are struggling to find the right words. Nick Anderson of The Washington Post has more. (October 2023) …
Student from Nigeria Discusses Adjusting to US Life
David Obiukwu, a student from Nigeria studying at Allen Community College in the U.S. state of Kansas, talks about his experiences as an international student and gives advice on adjusting to college life. Read his comments in The Allen Flame, the student newspaper, here. (October 2023) …
South Korean Student Urges Princeton to Better Educate International Students on Race
Princeton student Ukyung (Heidi) Nam, a first-year student from South Korea, says that the school’s International Orientation program needs to do a better job of educating students on race in America. “IO shouldn’t stop at teaching about topical and logistical issues, such as visas and paid work,” she writes in The Daily Princetonian,…
Purdue University Marks Record International Student Class
Purdue University Fort Wayne has enrolled 182 international students from 22 countries, making it its largest group of first-year international students ever. Inside Indiana Business has the story. (October 2023) …
EducationUSA Offers Services for International Students
U.S. News & World Report takes a look at EducationUSA, a network of advising centers supported to the U.S. State Department. Its mission is to help students who want to study in the U.S. According to the story, EducationUSA has some 430 advising centers in more than 175 countries and territories. The centers can help…
Getting a US Student Visa: Here’s How
Kharbarhub.com, a news site from Nepal, walks international students through the process of getting a U.S. student visa in this article. It includes information about applying and interviewing for a visa. Read the full story here. (October 2023) …
Can Digital Learning Save Higher Ed?
As colleges become battlegrounds for U.S. politics, and face declining enrollments, educators are worried that they have lost the American public’s trust. One way to fix this might be to expand access to online degrees. Michael D. Smith, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University, argues that academics should embrace digitization as a means of saving…
Amid War in the Middle East, Tensions Grow on US Campuses
Student activists in the U.S. have long championed both the Israeli and Palestinian causes. Amid the war between Israel and Hamas, many students report feeling threatened for their opinions. Activists claim to have been doxed (when your identity is unwillingly leaked to the public) and threatened online. Douglas Belkin and Melissa Korn speak to students affected…